On the stock market since 1991, it operates in the world of health and science. It has 1,402 employees. Now — the numbers.
The company closed last year at a loss: costs ran above sales. The picture changes only if spending is reined in.
No real growth (4% a year). Red columns mark years that ended in a loss.
Before the clock runs out, either sales must climb sharply or new money must come in. For now, time is on the company’s side.
We compared this company with its own sector across five subjects.
A score of 50 means class average.
Clearly below the class average.
Clearly below the class average.
The price isn’t cheap next to earnings — that’s why this grade sits in the middle.
Clearly above the class average — a step short of the very top.
Clearly below the class average.
Financial Strength: The cash-and-debt balance is thin; the buffer for hard times is slim.
Business Quality: Profit power and business quality trail similar companies in the sector.
angles, checked one by one.
The 4 that stand out are on screen; the rest came back neutral.
The council scores out of 10; report-card grades are out of 100.
Executive Buying: The trades send no strong signal of confidence.
The stock trades 32% below its peak. The market has trimmed its expectations for the company.
Over the last 3 years, sales grew about 17% a year on average.
The company sells $944M a year; the problem isn’t sales — it’s costs running above that number.
It met or beat analyst expectations in 7 of the last 8 quarters — consistency is a promise kept.
A loss of $381M against $944M in annual sales.
The balance sheet offers little cushion against a rough stretch. Report-card grade: 31/100.
Measured against its sector, the quality of the business sits below the class average. Report-card grade: 32/100.
On our five-subject report card, IONS sits behind the class. A low grade doesn’t mean “doomed” — it means “big claim, small proof.”
The takeaway: IONS has solid sales but closed last year at a loss. The road back to profit runs through spending discipline.
The total grade weighs these five subjects against the sector — it isn’t a simple average of the five.
Analysts’ average target sits above today’s price, yet the valuation grade (57/100) says the stock isn’t cheap.